During Monday night’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons, a key decision late in the fourth quarter left many—including former NFL quarterbacks Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, and Eli Manning—scratching their heads. With the Eagles leading 18-15 and only a couple of minutes left in the game, the general consensus among these veteran quarterbacks was that Philadelphia should avoid passing the ball, as an incomplete pass would stop the clock and give the Falcons more time to mount a comeback.
Ryan, joining the Manning brothers on their popular “ManningCast” broadcast, predicted at the two-minute warning that the Eagles would keep the ball on the ground: “I don’t think the ball’s going in the air again.” Both Peyton and Eli agreed, warning against a pass attempt, with Peyton stressing that Philadelphia should rely on their “tush push” play—a quarterback sneak used effectively in short-yardage situations.
Despite the advice, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni called for a pass on a crucial third-and-3 play. When running back Saquon Barkley dropped the pass, the clock stopped, gifting the Falcons an additional 40 seconds. Atlanta capitalized on this opportunity, scoring the game-winning touchdown with just 34 seconds remaining.
The Manning brothers believed this was the only scenario in which the Eagles could lose the game. Peyton had emphasized, “You can’t throw it here,” right before the fateful play. After the incomplete pass, he reacted by saying, “That’s why you don’t throw.” The risky decision to pass shocked the football community, particularly these three seasoned quarterbacks, who were vocal about the strategy they felt the Eagles should have employed.
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